Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals and InquiriesUse this subforum for all requests as to "How much is this vintage bike worth?"Do NOT try to sell it in here, use the Marketplaces.

Hey guys, I'm a college student new to these forums and I'd really like your help. I've been looking for a bike whose primary use will be for riding around campus.

So I've been looking around craigslist for a used bike and I came across this one. Is it worth $250? The seller seems to know what he's talking about - however some preliminary research tells me that Schwinn World Sport bikes typically don't exceed $200 - so my question is if the work that he has done to the bike would warrant the increased price. Thanks for any help yall might be able to give me!

It looks like an '87 World Sport in Racing Red. While it's true that the World Sport was toward the low end of the Schwinn model line-up, by 1987 the main tubes were double-butted 4130 chromoly. The fork was hi-ten. Rims were 27" alloys. Catalog weight was 27 pounds for a 23" (58cm) frame. I agree $250 is a bit on the high side, but if you're looking for a SS/FG it might be worth checking out.

I would not pay more than $50.00 for a World Sport. Keep looking. You can find much nicer bikes for way cheaper.

FWIW: I have had no trouble selling 1984 or newer WS (the ones with alloy rims and cromoly main frame) for $150 to $175, depending on size. This is in ready to ride condition. Sold a 1987 last week for $160 in superb, ready to ride condition. Before 1984, the WS was a real dog.

$250 is high, except in one of those red hot markets: NYC, Portland, OR, San Fran and a couple of others.

Your preliminary research is correct, I have never seen one cross $200.

Its a lower end, bike shop branded bike with a three piece crank and alloy wheels. Around here, you will not get that for $50, unless it needs a lot of work, or you score a deal.

That guy's ad is a real turn off for me, he is passing it off as if it is some super, high end find. But to each his own. It does look like he did some nice work on it.

It's a fixed gear conversion and the market is way down on fixies it would be worth $250 as a like new vintage ten speed as fixie you shouldn't consider paying more than $150. I would only pay $100 myself the amount of work time effort the guy spent in converting fixing it up has little to do with its actual value. Plus based on the ad I just would not deal with guy.

The thing about fixed gear conversions of old road bikes is that they always require a new wheelset. This is $100 at the very minimum. Although old road bikes can be had for $50-$100 you'll never see a FG (around here) for less than $150 simply due to the cost of the wheelset. When I put up a pretty awful looking Schwinn LeTour conversion at $180 I got a ton of responses, as it was by far the cheapest FG/SS bike on craigslist.

Although the World Sport is not high end, I'd say $200 is a fair price for that bike ready to ride. $250 is not out of the ballpark.

The thing about fixed gear conversions of old road bikes is that they always require a new wheelset. This is $100 at the very minimum. Although old road bikes can be had for $50-$100 you'll never see a FG (around here) for less than $150 simply due to the cost of the wheelset. When I put up a pretty awful looking Schwinn LeTour conversion at $180 I got a ton of responses, as it was by far the cheapest FG/SS bike on craigslist.

Although the World Sport is not high end, I'd say $200 is a fair price for that bike ready to ride. $250 is not out of the ballpark.

+1.

Exactly. If a potential buyer is looking for a SS/FG conversion, it's worth a look.